A tweet from about twenty-five minutes ago indicates that he more than likely has not seen the film. When asked if he had seen it and if he liked it, he replied, "Those who were there & can remember, tell me it's a combo of "Fantasia" & "Reefer Madness"." So, he's being told about it. What is he being told - that simply he is not shown inventing the cello part of Good Vibrations? He also just re-tweeted this remark: "I enjoyed your 1.5 seconds in the film." I'm not sure what he expects this film to be.

I think he had a very legitimate gripe to complain about his portrayal in that awful TV movie from 15 years ago. This, I don't particularly understand. But ultimately I suppose that no biopic can please everyone who was actually involved when the events portrayed were actually occurring.

That is obnoxious. "Those who can remember?" Relying on hearsay?  He can go buy a ticket and see it himself.

True friends are happy for their friend's triumphs and successes.  The film targeted two periods and it was about Brian, not focused even on The Beach Boys, apart from the genesis of the band. This is Brian's time, not VDP's.  All about Brian.  

It is about extricating a friend from a predatory therapist.  Even if Brian was a garbage man, and not a musical legend, his friends (Melinda and Gloria) extricated him from this evil force. It is a universal theme.  

The real truth is that it could have gone the other way! Landy might well have killed Brian.  He might be happy for his friend's very important story being told. Therapist in the amended will? Yikes!

It brings to mind the brouhaha over some young artist's tribute work on Smile artwork a few years back.  Court injunction barred the exhibit.  

Omissions?  There is little about Brian's band, called The Beach Boys.  The film can only cover so much subject matter in two hours.  So unrealistic of him.  VDP isn't that important.  Too bad he didn't get the memo.

It is a distraction from the beautiful work done on the sets, the integration of the music, to tell this important story...too bad...maybe more to to be pitied, than censured...

Agreed.  He should be glad that he was even portrayed in the movie.  Poor Tony Asher gets about 2 seconds, and we haven't heard him complaining...

I was born on January 14th, 1977 - the date on which the Love You LP was assembled.  My first real memory of the band was Kokomo.  As I grew into a full fledged music geek I was drawn in by the sophisticated mid-60's pop of Brian Wilson - specifically Pet Sounds and Smile.  I later got into the band's post-Smile period and before long I was a diehard.

I'm proud to say that my son - who is now 5-and-a-half - is showing his first real interest in the band!  I've tried to expose him to popular music his entire life and about two months ago he had his first real musical "kick" which was for the Beatles - but I kept playing the BB for him and he soon started to ask for them on a regular basis.  He now spends a lot of his iPad time (which is limited) to watching various BB clips on YouTube.  He can recite all of the members of the band.  He knows that Dennis and Carl have passed away.  He knows what a theremin is.  His favorite BB is Al Jardine (which I'm sure would make Al smile)! 

I hope my passion for the band catches on with him (he once attended a Brian Wilson concert in utero).

On an even funnier note - his 3-year-old sister keeps saying her favorite BB is "Mike Glove"!

Great post.  I was born in 1972, during the band's time in Holland.  My now 14 year-old daughter also attended a BB concert in utero in July 2000 (with Uncle Jesse in attendance).

My attempts to convert my kids into fans have been fairly successful.  My daughter has a "Beach Boys Station" on Pandora and saw Love and Mercy with me and my wife.  She also requested "God Only Knows" as her special song to take to a leadership camp a few weeks ago.

My 9-year old son is pretty much indifferent, although he has told me that "California Girls" is his favorite BB song and asks me to turn it up when I play it in the car.

So I would say that my indoctrination efforts have been fairly well-received.  I hope that laying this musical foundation will open them up to further exploring the Beach Boys on their own in the future.

Listened to a bunch of early BB's last night and just wanted to talk about "Your Summer Dream" for a minute. It has to rank with Brian's best early (pre-'64) ballads, but it seems strangely underproduced. This lead to a thought that most of Brian's advanced production techniques in the early days seemed confined to singles sides or other songs such as "Catch a Wave" and "Our Car Club" that might have been potentially seen as singles at one point. To me at least it seems as though there was a decision to (quite logically) spend more money and effort on the group's "a"-list material. "Your Summer Dream" therefore seems to have been destined to be buried on an LP somewhere. It's a gorgeous song, but even the addition of some vibrato guitar at the end or similar instrumental or vocal overdubbing would have elevated it. I wonder why the group might not have had more faith in it commercially-- perhaps because it was essentially a Brian solo song?

I'm glad you brought up this song.  It's a fantastic tune.  I love the chords, and it's fun for an amateur guitar player like myself to strum along.  I agree, it deserved more attention and sounds like it was done in just a few takes - can you imagine what it would have sounded like if given the Wrecking Crew treatment?

The lyrics are also quite beautiful. 

I've listened to ELO and don't really have any objections, but was curious as to others' specific thoughts on what they don't like about his productions.

I've read many things over the years that speak about "The Dread Hand of Jeff Lynne" on the engineer's board and objections to the sound of his productions.  

What is the general consensus of why he has earned this reputation?  Are there specific examples like, The drums are always too loud" or "The sound is too muddy" etc?

Very nice video - it was touching to see Brian and Carnie whisper to each other at the end of Fun Fun Fun.  I think Brian was nudging the little girl off the stage at the very end...

1448 Laurel Way is still there- sure does look like it could have been used in the movie...

https://www.google.com/maps/place/1448+Laurel+Way,+Beverly+Hills,+CA+90210/@34.0986568,-118.4175666,93m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x80c2bc4834c941fd:0x20bfe9a90ca680bd!6m1!1e1

According to the Google Earth Time Machine, the house at 10452 was demolished between July 2008 and June 2009.

Does anyone know if they used the same house to re-create the Sloop John B video in Love and Mercy?  It looked very similar to the original house.

Revolver - The Beatles
Rubber Soul - The Beatles
Moondance - Van Morrison
Rumours - Fleetwood Mac
Field Day - Marshall Crenshaw

Having seen the recent VDP Tweet of the I Get Around Shred on Brian's Birthday, I decided to look up other shreds.  This one is particularly hilarious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9hHKYfXIE0

This is great news, hopefully the number of theaters will continue to expand.  I understand that it started at 480 theaters on June 5th and is now up to 792 theaters, having earned about $7.2 million to date.

I think that it is no secret that Brian uses people to an extent. I say this just from what I have read over the years. Brian does not keep people in his life very long. From childhood friends, collaborators, so called friends like Danny Hutton. None of these people stay in Brian's circle very long. Even the story from 2003 with Van Dyke, where Brian calls him out the blue, they finish up lyrics, take Smile on the road. He's off and on with him through TLOS and then they're done. Shoot, Ray may be the longest ongoing friendship that he has going. There may be more that are out of the limelight, but it seems that the ones who are in the limelight are in and out of this circle of friends. I may be way off-base due to ignorance of not knowing everything about Brian, but from my observations from following Brian over the years, it just looks like a pattern. Again, just an opinion.

I think this is a fair observation.  From an outsider's point of view, I tend to agree.  Look at Andy Paley and Joe Thomas.  There's a period when they're in the circle and collaborating, and then we don't hear from them for a while, and then sometimes they pop back in for another project.  But in thinking about my own life and career, it's not much different.  I work on projects with people and when it's over, we move on to the next project individually and sometimes work together again when the need arises (I'm a civil engineer).

So, maybe Brian views these relationships as more of work and a task to be completed rather than a personal connection, whereas the other person may long for something deeper which may or may not materialize.

I agree, though, I'm sure there are plenty of folks we don't know about who are dear friends who have been around a long time.

The recent comments from Mr. Parks do not coincide with the "Southern Gentleman" persona he has cultivated over the years.  He had previously come across as a gracious and proud collaborator who expressed appreciation for his involvement in the ambitious project, and was always complementary of Brian. 


Conversely, I have not heard a peep from Tony Asher, a seemingly classy individual who doesn't feel the need to seek accolades and attention.

I wish the writer would have explained why he is known to walk across the court during the middle of his son's basketball games - to get to the concession stand?  Restroom?  Pep talk to Dylan?

What a great article. I don't know who Jason Fine is, but what a treat to be able to hang out with Brian and get an inside look into his everyday life. Brian certainly felt comfortable around him and seemed cool and relaxed.

I hope the Dennis movie finally sees the light of day.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/the-beach-boy-who-went-overboard-19840607?page=2

I would like Mike to talk about the early days on the road with Murry and all of the hijinks with the guys, traveling in the station wagon, getting fined for cursing, meeting girls, etc... That whole first rush of fame would be cool to hear.

I doubt Al can legally use the words 'Beach Boys' and 'Butter' in any combination. He doesn't own the legal rights to either.

But what if he marketed his butter as a fine French delicacy and changed the name to:

Buerre du Plage Garcon

http://www.40ozmaltliquor.com/40/crazyhorse.jpg

Who drank the crazy horse...
Who drank the crazy horse...
Who drank the crazy horse...

Over and over, Old Crow flies over the windshield...

I know they're not palindromes, but fun with letter re-arrangements...

Surf's Up = Puss Fur

Our Prayer = Rape U Roy

Do You Like Worms = Smile Roku Woody

Vegetables = See Vag Belt

It starts with just a little sip now
Right away you're thinkin' 'bout more sips now
You know you oughta pound 'em slower
But you just can't wait to hit the flo-oooooor

A brand new bottle of booze is such a beautiful thing
But if you're not careful think of all the pain it can bring

It makes you puke so bad
It makes your face turn red
It makes your girl go down
It makes your dick so long

You've got to keep in mind beer is here today
And it's gone tomorrow
It's here and gone so fast

This is freakin' golden. 

I keep looking for a bar to drink in where I can lose my mind
I've been trying hard to find Uncle Joey who I won't leave behind
I got really nice hair but it ain't doing me no good
I wish it could

Each time I start drinkin’ again
I think I’ll pour something good for myself
But what goes
(Wrong?)

Sometimes I drum very bad
Sometimes I drum very bad
(Can't find a big glass I can pour my Margarita into)
Sometimes I drum very bad
(Can't find a big glass I can pour my Margarita into)

I guess I just love me some Early Times

Every time I take a swig of Moonshine and go drive all around
Aunt Becky wants to help me look for places where sobriety might be found
Where will I turn when the Rippers won’t work out, what's it all about?

Each time I start drinkin’ again
I think I’ll pour something good for myself
But what goes
(Wrong?)

Sometimes I drum very bad
Sometimes I drum very bad
(Can't find a big glass I can pour my Margarita into)
Sometimes I drum very bad
(Can't find a big glass I can pour my Margarita into)

I guess I just love me some Early Times
I guess I just love me some Early Times
I guess I just love me some Early Times

Wheeeeeeeeeennnnn

some washed-up actor tries to drag through town and thinks his hair's still great,

I tell him right away,

Now whats a matter Jesse ain't you heard of the cops

They'll lock you up in this State...

"Let him drive drunk, he don't care, let him drive drunk, he'll find out..."

"I'm waiting for the day when you can drive again..."

I was searching the internet to research Brian and the watches he wears because I had seen one with him and a Rolex Submariner.  I came across this website which compiles a lot of information and nice videos into a pretty extensive timeline.  It has some great YouTube videos.

http://rolexblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-beach-boys-more-than-50-years-of.html